Daniel N. Paul

Daniel N. Paul
CM ONS
Born
Daniel Nicholas Paul

(1938-12-05)December 5, 1938
Indian Brook 14, Nova Scotia, Canada
DiedJune 27, 2023(2023-06-27) (aged 84)
NationalityCanadian
Alma materSuccess Business College
Occupation(s)Elder, author, columnist, activist

Daniel Nicholas Paul, CM ONS, (December 5, 1938 – June 27, 2023) was a Canadian Miꞌkmaq elder, author, columnist, and human rights activist. Paul was perhaps best known as the author of the book We Were Not the Savages. Paul asserts that this book is the first such history ever written by a First Nations citizen.[1] The book is seen as an important contribution to the North American Indian movement. One writer stated, "It's a Canadian version of Dee Brown's bestseller Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and, as such, served a valuable purpose in raising public consciousness about Miꞌkmaq history, identity, and culture."[2]

Among his many awards, Paul was conferred with the Order of Nova Scotia (ONS) in 2002 and appointed Member of the Order of Canada (CM) in 2005.[3] He received from Université Sainte-Anne an honorary Doctor of Letters degree (1997).[1] He had an honorary law degree from Dalhousie University (2013) and was the recipient of the Grand Chief Donald Marshall Memorial Elder Award (2007). He states: "High among the most appreciated honours that I've received during my career are the dozens of small items, Eagle Feathers, tobacco pouches, letters, mugs, etc., given and sent to me by students as thanks for helping them better understand the importance of according all Peoples human dignity and respect."[citation needed] During his active career, he has visited and lectured at most high schools, junior high schools, and elementary schools in Nova Scotia, several out of province, all universities in the Maritimes and at many others elsewhere in Canada and the United States. His brother Lawrence Paul is the former long-serving chief of Millbrook First Nation (1984–2012).

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference danielnpaul was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Paul Bennett. How solid is the case against Cornwallis? Chronicle Herald. 29 June 2011
  3. ^ "Mr Daniel N. Paul". Governor-General of Canada. Retrieved 28 June 2023.